Three men called to Holy Orders in Diocese of Knoxville

Bishop Richard F. Stika has called to Holy Orders three transitional deacons to become priests of the Diocese of Knoxville at a Mass of Ordination on June 10 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. “This is a joyous time for me personally and for all the …

External forms of participation in the Mass

From posture and gesture to the saying of ‘Amen,’ we can engage more fully in the liturgy By Father Randy Stice Our participation in the Mass is most fruitful when we do so “fully aware of what [we] are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects” …

Buy Nothing group offers a way to give, receive

Basilica members combine the beauty of Catholic tradition and the richness of Catholic social teaching  By Claire Collins The Bird family, inspired by a call from fellow Catholic friends around the country, have started a “Buy Nothing” group at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. The idea …

Gatorade honors KCHS runner Keegan Smith

In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade on Jan. 30 announced that Keegan Smith of Knoxville Catholic High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Player of the Year, the second straight year the Fighting Irish runner has won the award. Keegan …

Knoxville Catholic’s Deondrea Lindsey named state’s top soph in basketball

Knoxville Catholic High School sophomore basketball standout Deondrea Lindsey was recently named the top player in the state for the 2025 signing class by 247Sports. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound Deondrea is receiving collegiate offers from Division I programs Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, and SMU. The Fighting Irish finished the season …

Blanche Mackay

Blanche Mackay, age 97, of Knoxville, passed away Feb. 5. Mrs. Mackay volunteered at Ladies of Charity, was a board member of the Council of Catholic Women, and active in AARP and Newcomers Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Mackay. She is survived by her children, …

Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley

Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley, fondly known as “Pattie,” passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 23. A funeral Mass for Dr. Davis-Wiley was held on Feb. 3 at St. John XXIII University Parish and Catholic Center in Knoxville, with Paulist Father Don Andrie serving as celebrant and Paulist Father John Ardis concelebrating. A …

Benedict delineates the elements of charity

Those who carry out the Church’s charitable activity ‘must be people moved by Christ’s love’ By Deacon Bob Hunt Last month, in honor of Pope Benedict XVI, I offered a summary of the first part of his encyclical Deus Caritas Est, “God Is Love,” and promised a summary of Part …

KCHS tennis player follows in mom’s footsteps

Gigi Sompayrac is bound for college in the sport her mother, Cathy, also played for the Lady Irish     By Bill Brewer The circle is now complete. May the circle be unbroken. Knoxville Catholic High School senior Gigi Sompayrac put the finishing touches on that 360-degree journey on Feb. 1 when …

Diocesan educators’ in-service is first in 3 years

The East Tennessee Catholic More than 350 Catholic school educators from the Diocese of Knoxville’s 10 schools gathered Feb. 21 at Knoxville Catholic High School to do something they haven’t been able to do in nearly four years — meet in person for an in-service session. It was the first …

Martha Anne Otero

Martha Anne Otero, LMSW, age 67, of Concord Farragut, passed away on Jan. 6. Mrs. Otero was a social worker, program director, educator, an advocate for young children and young women, a devout Catholic, a volunteer, a devoted wife, wonderful mother, and a grandmother adored by her two granddaughters. Mrs. …

Ron Mauer

Ronald (Ron) Joseph Mauer, age 88, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 30. A funeral Mass with military color guard was held Feb. 11 at All Saints Church. Graveside services for Mr. Mauer were held at Highland Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Mauer was a son, husband, father, grandfather, …